• Property tax reform tops legislative list: REGISTER
• Caucus ’12: Iowa Poll: Iowans differ on strategies for job creation: REGISTER
• Number of deer taken down in first hunt: RADIO IOWA
• Caucus ’12: Ron Paul on attack: REGISTER
• Survey says unemployed aren’t optimistic about job prospects: RADIO IOWA
• New poll gauges Iowa Republicans’ attitude on immigration: RADIO IOWA
• Town halls, parent roundtable planned on education blueprint: REGISTER
• Caucus ’12: Paul’s campaign trying harder: GAZETTE
• Iowa sex abuse panel backs more detention training: QC TIMES
• Cedar Rapids voters consider local-option sales tax extension: GAZETTE
• Downtown Iowa City tax district approved: GAZETTE
• Iowa falls two places to No. 17 in healthy state rankings: REGISTER
• Iowa school district considers K-12 online school: QC TIMES
• Reform has too much emphasis on GPA: REGISTER
• Feds: New health-care law saved Medicare recipients avg of $581M on drugs: GLOBEGAZETTE
• Vote centers popular, save county money: GLOBEGAZETTE
• State officials don’t want legal fight: SCJOURNAL
• Infrastructure fund shouldn’t be used for teacher pay: SCJOURNAL

• Caucus ’12: Four-week blitz: time’s almost up: REGISTER
• Caucus ’12: Romney raps Obama’s Hawaiian vacation, Democrats snap back: RADIO IOWA
• Iowa Chief Justice to tell US Senate about coverage of the courts: RADIO IOWA
• Branstad: Survey indicates support for ed reforms: REGISTER
• Law officers talk about child abuse and its link to crime: RADIO IOWA
• Study says tougher licensing rules would protect young drivers: REGISTER
• Four percent increase in construction jobs in Iowa: RADIO IOWA
• Caucus ’12: Santorum expects ‘slow and steady’ rise: REGISTER
• Caucus ’12: Eyeing Gingrich in Iowa, Santorum signs up for the Trump debate: REGISTER
• Cedar Rapids fills housing holes with free land, housing breaks: GAZETTE
• DNR doesn’t monitor health impact of plant emissions: GLOBEGAZETTE
• Branstad disregards openness pledge: REGISTER
• Iowa sheriffs urge keeping state funds for home-visit programs: SC JOURNAL
• One in 5 Iowa bridges called ‘structurally deficient’: SC JOURNAL
• Iowa veterans home fined after falls: QC TIMES

The Iowa Executive Council met on October 3 with a number of items on the agenda. One such piece was a vote to renew the state’s group insurance contract with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The renewal was accompanied by premium increases for two of the four covered areas. Health premiums are going to increase by 0.8% and dental rates will increase at a rate of 4.4%. The rates for term life insurance and long term disability will remain constant.

These rate increases translate into an additional $12 million in spending the state has to pay in order to cover its employees. For purposes of health insurance, the state pays 100% of single and double spouse contracts and 85% of an employee’s family premium. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, 87% of state employees pay nothing toward their health insurance premiums.

Read on…

On Monday, October 3, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) released the final revenue figures for FY 2011 and the first quarter figures for FY 2012. While FY 2011 came in above the estimate set by the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC), FY 2012 is below the current REC estimate.

Read on for details…

Governor Branstad unveiled his vision for education reform earlier this week, a plan that will likely dominate much of the discussion during the 2012 legislative session. The plan was developed primarily by Department of Education Director Jason Glass, and the Governor’s Assistant for Education, Linda Fandel. Following the Education Summit, which the Governor hosted this summer, they set to work taking ideas from multiple sources and began drafting a plan. After several meetings with many education stakeholders, including legislators, school boards, teachers unions, school administrators, AEAs, and the business community, a draft was composed.

The heart of the plan is to get a great teacher in every classroom and a great principal in every building. Director Glass has emphasized many times that this is a comprehensive plan with many pieces that all fit together. This is a systemic change of “Strategic Persistence,” reforms that pull together, make sense, last years, and will take time to work.

Read on for a breakdown of the plan…

A new October 2011 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version.

Caucus Newsletter October 7, 2011

Included in this edition:

• Detailed Summary of Governor’s Education Reform Plan
• FY 12 Revenue Concerns Grow
• 87% of State Employees Pay Nothing Toward Health Care

• Caucus ’12: Nevada moves forward, could Iowa caucuses be in December?: REGISTER
• ‘To do’ list for Terrace Hill includes end of cold showers: RADIO IOWA
• Vilsack says reducing ethanol mandate is ‘ill-advised’ and ‘ill-timed’: RADIO IOWA
• Leader of disabled advocacy group is forced out: REGISTER
• Manufacturing study shows mixed results for the state: RADIO IOWA
• Caucus ’12: Palin decision locks in GOP field: REGISTER
• High-tech teaching consultant to visit Iowa schools: RADIO IOWA
• Listeria strain in tainted cantaloupe linked to Iowa woman’s miscarriage: REGISTER
• Iowa group’s survey finds 60 percent of American workers are full timers: RADIO IOWA
• Caucus ’12: Voters look around; Newt reinvigorated: OBRADOVICH
• Iowa educators call for more detailed reform blueprint: QC TIMES
• Institute gives Iowa economy high marks: QC TIMES
• ‘Wal-Mart mothers’ could be key voting demographic: GLOBEGAZETTE

• Iowa Medal of Honor recipient Salvatore Giunta is humble hero: REGISTER
• Program provides grants to help nurses become teachers: RADIO IOWA
• Attorney General testifies before Senate on foreclosures: RADIO IOWA
• Election ’12: Gingrich: I’m working to clear path for 2012 presidential run: REGISTER
• Election ’12: Gingrich visits Iowa, ponders ‘wave of change’: RADIO IOWA
• Activists say rules on water need to be stronger: REGISTER
• Miller files lawsuits against 4 excavators: REGISTER
• Iowa’s kids are counting on you: SC JOURNAL
• Grant to help pay for new school bus: SC JOURNAL

Speaker-Elect Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) today announced a second round of committee chairs for the 84th General Assembly. This group of committees will be tasked with putting the nearly 114,000 Iowans who are out of a job back to work.

Continue reading for the list of appointments…

• Iowa House Republicans already have priorities in mind: REGISTER
• Culver on his future, including decision on judges: RADIO IOWA
• Branstad to fill minimum of retiree positions: REGISTER
• Voters approve gambling referendums by large margins: RADIO IOWA
• Branstad: I should appoint new justices, not Culver: RADIO IOWA
• Secretary of State says 52% of registered voters cast ballots Tuesday: RADIO IOWA
• Republicans: No sales tax hike for conservation fund: REGISTER
• Supreme Court to meet next week to talk about transition: RADIO IOWA
• Gay-rights groups decry justices’ ouster: REGISTER
• No middle ground on removing justices: REGISTER
• Branstad outlines plan to shrink government: QC TIMES
• Two districts will decide Iowa Senate’s balance of power: QC TIMES
• Iowa fire marshal issues warning on outdoor fires: QC TIMES
• Business leaders prioritize post-election goals: REGISTER
• Iowa House Speaker won’t seek minority post: QC TIMES
• Voting ID plan a key, Matt Schultz says: REGISTER
• Vander Plaats hopes election results spurs action on marriage issue: GAZETTE
• Culver says he’s looking ahead, eager to help: REGISTER
• Branstad prevailed in Democratic hotspots: REGISTER
• Removal of judges sets ugly precedent for future: SC JOURNAL